Although not a new term, the concept of ‘common prosperity’ gained new traction after Chinese President Xi Jinping identified it as a pillar for China’s development in a speech in August 2021 (a speech which came back to the front pages of news outlets when its full version was published in mid-October). While the basic idea behind ‘common prosperity’ is addressing inequality in China, this has taken shape through different initiatives, most notably in tech, entertainment and education crackdowns that have sent ripples in the business and investor communities.
This leaves observers and pundits alike facing a number of questions:
The EU SME Centre and the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China are thus pleased to invite you to join our next Policy Meeting, where Mr Bert Hofman, director of the East Asian Institute at NUS and Professor of Practice at the Lee Kuan Yew School, and Mr Andrew Batson, China Research Director at Gavekal, will provide their perspectives on China’s push for Common Prosperity.
The meeting will take place on Friday, 5 November 2021 from 09:00 to 10:30 (CST) via Zoom.
Agenda
09:00-09:10 Opening Remarks
09:10-10:00 Presentation by Bert Hofman and Andrew Batson
10:00-10:30 Discussion and Q&A
About the speakers
Mr. Bert Hofman
Director of the East Asian Institute and Professor of Practice at the Lee Kuan Yew School at the National University of Singapore
Mr. Bert Hofman, a Dutch national, is the director of the East Asian Institute and Professor of Practice at the Lee Kuan Yew School at the National University of Singapore. Before joining NUS in 2019, he worked with the World Bank for 27 years, 22 of which in Asia, and 12 of which on China. Mr. Hofman was the World Bank Country Director for China 2014-2019, the country economist for China 2004-2008, and the Chief Economist for the World Bank in East Asia and Pacific 2011-2014. He also worked on Indonesia, the Philippines, Korea, Mongolia, South Africa, Namibia, Zambia, the Former Soviet Union, and Brazil. Before coming to the World Bank, Mr. Hofman worked at the Kiel Institute of World Economics, The OECD and NMB Bank (Now ING). Mr. Hofman has extensive experience in advising governments on a wide range of development issues, and he has published on fiscal policy, decentralization, debt issues, and China’s and Indonesia’s economic history.
Mr. Andrew Batson
Director of China Research at Gavekal Dragonomics
He manages its team of researchers in Beijing, writes and comments regularly on the Chinese economy, and frequently speaks to business and academic audiences. Andrew is also a nonresident senior fellow at the Paulson Institute, a Chicago-based think tank that focuses on China and environmental issues. Andrew has lived and worked in China since 1998, and over the course of his career as an analyst and journalist has written hundreds of articles on Chinese business, government, economics and society. Before joining Gavekal in 2011, Andrew was an award-winning reporter for The Wall Street Journal and Dow Jones Newswires in Beijing and Hong Kong.
Meeting Registration and Cancellation
This is a closed meeting open to consortium partners’ management and relevant stakeholders of EU SME Centre Phase III including embassies or consulates only. If you meet the criteria and would like to attend, please send your information to Ester Cañada Amela (ester.canada.amela@eusmecentre.org.cn) with subject line “Policy Meeting – Interpreting China’s ‘Common Prosperity’ Drive” before Thursday, 4th November COB. You will receive a confirmation email and later on the access link to the meeting.
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